Relay.



D ODG OII, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY NY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RELAY.

.L-u-m Application filed December 1,1914.

To (525 bf-1 50712 it may concern: 1

i e it known that I. Fimxit L. Dooosox, Keen of the United States, and a resident of toe city of Rochester. in the county of :nroe and friitate oi New York, have inncw and useful Relay, of which the following a specification.

invention is directed 1,)articularly to the sohition of dilliculties encountered in certain forms of electric signaling systems ilways. wherein comparatively long WlVS are necessary for the purpose of ating two or more block sections. A

.il'ein ot' the form in question necessi- "he use of an electric relayhaving the tac s in circuit with coinparatively wiresll l oreover, the voltage and i of controlling currents most adaptable or railroad signal circuits require, on account of various conditions, that the sepa ration between the relay contacts when in open position be small. In practice this on is commonly a few hundredths of er these conditions. dilliculties have due to the line Wires becoming i-static electricity and due to occ1 ing between the reese discl'iarges not only or roug" cned the contact surfaces of but in some instances, due to static from the line wires to and .lec relay contarts vould become the passage of the electric dis rough the relay coil and the passage hea y discharge at the same time he fusing of the metal relay would ca use contacts together and prevent their separa i tion. Thai result would be that a safety indication would be given when a danger signal should properly be indicated.

in order to overcome the fusing of therelay, contacts together. the use of carbon or graphite contacts has been resorted to, ma 1(- ing one or both of the relay contacts of such material so that there could be no chance of t is c' atacts being :lused together in closed 1. But owing to the con'iparatively asistance or carbon or graphite conin such relays. and to the resultant high ta c interposed in the long; line wires line circuit closed at the carbon of the relay, the et iciency ot the line has been very much reduced and has Specification of Letters Patent.

necessitated the use of higher voltages on the line wires and larger line current in practical operation than would otherwise be necessary.

The object oi my invention is to overcome all of these diiiiculties and insure high efiiciency of the line cincuit, and likewise insure keeping the relay contacts in good operating condition and prevent the possibility of the relay contacts becoming fused together. i 7

My invention will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings. in which Figure l is a diagram of a portion of a railway signaling systcn'i to which my invention is particularly applicable; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a relay device embodying my invention forming part of the system represented by Fig. 1. the proportions and distances being exaggerated tor clearncss of cx 'ilanation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a fixed contact post of the relay: Fig. 4 is an.

enlarged top perspective view of a relay con-' tact arm, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly in section oi' a liXcd contact post of the relay.

Referring to Fig. 1, the two rails 1. 2 of a railway track are divided into electrically isolated sections A and l) by means of insulating joints 3. 4,.5. (3. 7 and a. At one end of each of the block sections is abattery ll and 10 respectively. connected across the two rails. At the other end otcach of the sections a relay l1 and 12 respectively is connected across the rails. Each block section including the battery, relay coil and rails form a local closed track circuit section.

'"he ci'itrance of a car or train on either of the sections. by reason oi the wheels and axles forming a shunt path for the battery current. will cause a deenergization of the respective relay 11 or 12. The relays l1 and 1 control the signals 13 and H respectively. \Vhen the relays are energized, the respectire signals are moved from a normal biased position to an operative position. In this instance. there are two operative positions, one the 90 position shown in Fig. 1, indicating clear and the other operative position, the on position. indicating caution, whereas the zero or. biased position indicates danger.

V hen relay 11 is denergized by presence of a train in section A, the signal 13 falls to ply of che y from the battery 15 conacro or (langcr posi l'ion, because ahc suptrolling rho m imiumliatcly ahcail oi, a signal. but also by the conditions Misting in tho blOCllT section nhciul ol the next signal; thus hul lil shoulll assume a danger position wlicn a train is in section A, a cautioi'i or i43 p0 sitioii whmi a train is in section l3 and no train in svcl'lioh fl and should assun'ic a 2 or 90 posiiion when no train is in cil1liol -se lion ji or section ll, This may he accoirulishcrl by (mailing the Bllfil'gllllijltlll. or (lo ucrgizntion oi rclay 12 to aflj'cct jhesignal 13, la :hc Form shown the relay 112 shown lll'UYllliHl with an :ulclitioi'ml urina- 2?) :2 ul contacts connected to lino ires hil ii which have in circuit another r0 ill) mill source of cncrgzfy as battery i no relay ill) has armature 26 which is hchl in closed position when the relay 21') is cncr {IlZQkl and is to open position when rclay 3U alc'ihor gizml. The arrriaturc 26 is inv circuit with controlling mechanism of lzhc signal-l3. This mechanism forms no part, of my proscnl; invention and is a type w in well hi'own and mall not he (lcscrihcd hora in il""ul. it is surhcu-zn'b for present purpol A, to amircciata that the presence o'l a lirain inv section A by ileiihcrgization of relay 11 causes the armature l? to fall and open iLhc circuit of thc'mechanism of signal 13 so that this signal assumes the danger position in all cases when a rain is in ion andv when a train is in sccfiion ll ills fal armature 23 results in the li'alli? i .nalgure :26 so that the signal iucchaiiism of signal. operates only to 'caiise signal 13 to more to the 45 or safety poo. mil with no tain in SQB LiOXl A; aml when the lriin passes to the right: out of section the armaturo 23 is raised to closed position causing mature 2G to he hrough'l a so to closecl pos'lioh which then causes ills signal mechanism of l3 he f om thc l-f" position lo the 90 or clear position, showing chat ho train is in either lilocl; sc ction. in tho same Way al 12: be controlled by Ccl'lfll 10118 in semion and. in the beciion ahcarl' of Zion B.

l is apparent, shall ills above syslsm quires the use 01". line W res 22, M which 1:0 ay

action be over a mile or i o 'e 11 loh'gshi By reason of mesa line Wires being connected 1:0 relay roiraclis the rclay 3'2 and ll-lie very sn'lall ilistanca separating nae confiacts in practice in open position, the coniiilbiohs arise scribed in a pracaclirig should he (zohtrollcil not only by the sec '13 Wilh the presence of a ammoat tho (time oi such (lischargr inrougiglii the coil of relay 1'2 and the snnullzanrous pass niggoi the (hsrhargc through ihc relay coniacts has caused them to his 1 gather when such. controls were of racial. and thereby rcsultml in giving a false indication in si r'ial train ll section lCrcn when the contacis (lo mo become lusacl iO 'liillGl, their snrial'trs in lKCOlHB so 'i'ouggliaiicil or qillml as to imor'lerc with the propor rocralioh and clhcmi'icy of the rcfor the relays he cllicio' much rezluccil oi the contacts also such or .LS by continued use lays.

luwcozuo loss at'mhioii anal" i lily present m'culzion improves the reliability lurabilily zhl allicicncy of Lhe above doscrih-ml railway fhal system by introducing in combination thcreirilh an improved form of contacts in ihl rclays. lii 2 to lgho Cfllilfi of the relay 5J2 aml l2 which are connccred to line 'wl' 2l a re iiirlica he coil oi :auswgg la; arm

l a 33 is eiicrr izerl. l .712 arrria'turc 23., or fill- 11E]? the current carrying 3211] sacurcil to 'lha armature, '51 shown as having o therewith at its outer sml a having irl' tei 'ral therewith (lil'ill 'flllllfy' 1" afrom the corr .c

30 aiicl Bl. lac two ouiar fiw lo have ii: relation to the metal 11i x V 1 so as a somewl at higher posi on infill aired in Thai rim conlfiaeib oil zhc relay is as lacing made of a metallic 32 carrying, a1; lower chill.

' 1 I uiclicaseu heacl or hohlcr a lilocla; or hulzhn oi caroo graphite V i other rot lug a atively high res h weir face oi this Contact tari-r 1 extchrls a strip of metal, i a o? which are turned upwarzlly on t w 'h the sirlss a block 34:, lnl'ic noel the rclalavely high pair's being hclrl in 1 e by the flange of iolilcz' 1'33 'lhis spun arow the hloclc a: aiirl emls of ship 35 so so 7 M i im'l .m "PM "at 1 :Llnly clamp mick m l. LU.- alle luv a. strip 35 is located. on the. hlocl: so lo actory cliimluc ira f-fi'laiml a 34: haw

The result of this construction is that when toe relay contacts are in open position, the outside lingers 30 are nearer to the fixed contact than is the linger 31, as indi cated in Fig. 2; and when the relay closes, the lingers 30 will make contact with the bottom face of the block 3-1, before the finger 81 engages the metal strip 35. \Vhen the relay contacts are in fully closed position, the linger 31 is in firm engagement with the metal strip 37 giving a direct metallic circuit from the line wire to the metal holder 32 of the liiltd contact and thence to the line wire 22. .lt will also be understood that in the opening and (.JlOSlll" of these relay contacts, there a slight sliding of the contacts due to the fingers 30, 31 being yieldable, which tends to secure good contact engagement and to keep the contact surfaces in good condition.

\Vithmy invention, it will. be understood that the dilliculties previously encountered from static discharges from the linc-wires 22, 2 are avoided, or their effects so minimized as to prevent interruption with the proper operation of the signal system. Thus when the relay contacts are in open position,

any discharge between the relay contacts will occur wholly between fingers and the contact block 34 by reason of their being nearer together than the finger 31. ,to the metal strip 35, which serves to protect the contact surfaces of the latter parts; and when any static discharge from the line wires :24 causes a momentary closing of the relay contacts, the fingers 30, by reason of their being the first to come near and to engage the fixed contact, serve to carry the static discharge to the block 3%. The finger 3i and contact 35 are thereby protected or shielded from such discharge, or excessive current flow. The contacts 30 and block i'i-l likewise are not seriously affected by such discharge, nor do they become fused together, on account of the contact block being" of carbon. graphite or other refractory material. In case oi very heavy discharges or heavy current flow which could not properly be carried by the relay contacts. the pig-tail 36 will melt and open the circuit, its carrying capacity being such. as to thug: act to protect the relay contacts in such in li lorcmver while thus avoidinc,- dill-a fr m static discharges or other curl-oi relay a Leo closed secures ow cont; r ance ing anall metal path though it re i,:ontacts as above stated.

This insuu an increased circuit comprising the line wires 22, and a saving of energy as well as insuring reliable opei' .ion and durability.

lily invention may be embodied in various etiiciency in the forms of construction without departing from he scope thereof.

1. in a relav, in combination: a refractory relatively high resistance conductive button; a metallic ribbon located on the face of said button; a contact arm having a plurality of fingers, the end of one of said fingers lying in a plane different from that of the other fingers; a pivot for said contact arm, said pivot, button and contact arm being so positioned that when the relay is dei nergized one of the contact fingers is nearer to the button than one of the other contact lingers is to the metallic ribbon.

2. In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the closing and openin of which is controlled by said coil, one of said contacts having a contact face partly of mttal and partly of refractory conductive material and the other of said contacts having contacting portions of metal respectively spaced from controlled by said coil, one of said contacts having a contact face partly of metal and partly of refractory conductive material and the other of said contacts having a plurality of metal fingers respectively spaced from said portions of the other contact by different distances when in open position and the metal to metal engaging parts having the greater sepliration in open position.

4. In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the closing and opening of which is controlled by said coil, one of said contacts having a contact face partly of metal and partly of refractory conductive material and the other of said contacts having a plurality of metal fingers integral with each other and respectively spaced from said portions of the other contact by different distances when in open position.

' In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the closing and opening of which is controlled by said coil, one or" said contacts con'iprising a block having a contact face partly of refractory conductive material and partly of metal and the other of said contacts having metal contacting fingers adapted to engage respectively with said two face portions, the finger engaging the metal face portion being' spaced therefrom by a greater distance than the finger engaging the face portion of refractory material when the parts are in open position.

6. In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the closing and opening of which is controlled by said coil, one of said contacts comprising a block of refractory conductive material, part of its -face having a metal strip and the other of said contacts having metalv contacting lingers adapted to engage respectively with a face portion'of the refractory material and said strip, the finger said portions of the other contact by difengaging said strip being spaced therefrom by a greater distance than the finger engaging the face portion of said refractory ma terial when the parts are in openposition.

7. In a relay, controlling coihand contacts the closing and opening of which is controlled by said coil, one of said contacts comprising a block of refractory conductive material and a metal strip across the middle ].7OI"l3i0I1 of said block and the other of said contacts having metal contacting lingers integral. with each other and adapted toenga'ge respectively with said strip and the face of said block on opposite sides of said strip, the linger engaging said strip being spaced therefrom at a greater distance than the fingers engaging the face of said block.

8. In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the opening and closing of which is controlled by said coil the fixed contact comprising a block of rerractory' conductive material and a metal portion, a metal holder for said refractory material and metal portion, said holder embracing and contacting with both said block and metal portion, and the movable contact having one contacting portion thereof spaced from said metal portion a greater distance than another contacting portion of said movable contact is spaced from the contactface of said refractory material when the parts are in open. position, a

9. ln a relay. a controlling coil, and corn tacts the opening and closing of which is controlled by said coil, the fixed contact comprising a block of refractory conductive material and a metal strip extending across the face of said block and sides thereof, a metal. holder for said block and strip, said holder embracing and contacting .with said block and strip, and the movable contact neiaeao having one contacting portion thereof spaced from said metal portion a greater distance than another contacting portion of said movable contact is spaced from the Contact face of said refractory material when the parts are in open position.

10. In a relay, a controlling coil, and contacts the opening and closing of which. is

controlled by said coil the fixed contact comprising a block of refractory conductive material and a metal portion, a metal holder for s1 id refractory material and metal portion, said holder embracing and contacting, with both said block and metal portion, and the movable contact having a plurality of metal fingers integral with each other, and adapted to respectively engage the face of said block and said metal portion the finger engaging said metal portion being spaced therefrom at a greater distance than the finger engaging the face of said block when the parts are in open position.

11. In a relay, a. controlling coil, and contacts the opening and closing of which is controlled by said coil, the fixed contact comprising a contacting portion of refractory conductive material and a contacting portion of metal and the movable contact comprising a plurality of contacting metal fingers integral with each other and adapted to engage respectively with said portions of the fixed contact, the finger engaging the metal portion being spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the distance between the finger engaging the portion of refractory material when the parts are in open position.

FRANK L. DODGSQN.

/Vitnesses Cnmnrins F. Es'rwioir, Sori-Iin LEVIN. 

